Page 158 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“They were killed in a rockslide there in...what’s it called? Bug Pass or something?”

“Bug Ash Pass?” Romi’s frown deepens. “Oh my God, that road is terrible. We had some tourists who died?—”

“What, three months ago? Yeah, those were my parents.”

She stares at me, her mouth trembling. “I had no idea.”

“Of course not,” I wave my hand, my tone a lot more glib than what I feel. Something happened back there in the library. I think I went straight from denial to anger. “But this is all back story. Bear with me. So, they were here that night to attend their reunion.”

“Oh, yes, I remember.” Romi brightens a little, and then almost seems apologetic for lightening the mood. “My parents went to that too.”

“Our parents were in the same class?”

“I guess so.” Romi shrugs, and then frowns. “What are—were—your parents’ names?”

“Ruth and Oscar.”

She shakes her head. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”

As if she’d remember some random people her parents might have been friends with twenty-odd years ago. “Anyway...that day...” I swallow hard, putting my brush down on the bed. Why is this so difficult? “That day I went to the Silverash Forest for a walk.”

Romi blinks expectantly at me. “Why there?”

I shrug. “I was sick of waiting in the car with my parents. Anyway, I saw something out there.”

Romi sits and waits.

“I witnessed a murder, Romi.”

Her face flinches, then she gives me a faint smile. “Why does this sound like the start of a really bad joke?”

“It’s not. I’m being serious.” I swipe my tongue over suddenly dry lips. “There was a guy dressed in camo. He had a dog and a rifle. I saw him being chopped up.”

I’m making a mess of this. Why aren’t my words coming out right?

“Chopped up?” Romi gives me an incredulous frown. “Like...in pieces?”

“Well, no. They just?—”

“They?” Romi’s eyes flash wide. “Like a gang?” That seems to scare her more than the fact that someone was killed.

I lick my lips again. “Romi, I swear, I’m not making this up.”

She tosses her book aside, scrambling until she’s sitting cross-legged. “Nim, who?” Her voice is almost a whisper. “Tell me.”

“The Serpents.”

When she says nothing, does nothing, I add, “Knox, Silas?—”

“You saw them chop someone up?” She blinks a few times. “I...why...but who?”

“I don’t know. I told you, he was all covered in camo.”

She leans back a little like she’s trying to put me into focus. “Nim...this isn’t funny.”

“Am I laughing?” Although, honestly, I’m literally suppressing a manic cackle right now. I’ve never been this nervous in my life. Romi is my only pseudo-friend in this place, and she’s terrified of the Serpents. I’m taking a risk alienating my only ally for a story so ridiculous, I should be selling the movie rights on it.

“Why would they do that?”

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